Chapter 556: The Battle Concludes

"You, Xuan Ye... how could you..."

Shock appeared on Shi Zhanxin’s face, but in the next instant, the battle saber in his hand flashed out again. A dense web of blade light crazily enveloped Jiuchen’s entire body.

Ye Xuan sneered. "Trying to make a move in front of me?"

His Dictator’s Sword suddenly vanished. A series of metallic CLANGS rang out; no matter how Shi Zhanxin attacked, he was instantly blocked.

"Break for me!"

At the same time, Jiuchen roared and sent Duan Tianlang’s Thick Earth Seal flying.

BOOM!

A terrifying pressure then enveloped Shi Zhanxin. Jiuchen stared at him dispassionately, his gaze as cold and sharp as a frigid blade.

"I..."

Before Shi Zhanxin could say anything else, Jiuchen punched him in the chest, sending him flying like a broken sack and causing him to spray blood wildly.

Jiuchen’s eyes were fierce yet held a trace of sorrow. He said coldly, "Xuan Ye told me just now that there was a traitor among us, and I didn’t believe him. Shi Zhanxin, you have disappointed me greatly."

Celestial Wheel and the others also had ashen faces as they looked at Shi Zhanxin with regret.

"Shi Zhanxin, I never would have thought you were the traitor."

"Why? You’ve disappointed me so much."

Celestial Wheel and the others looked at this companion with whom they had once fought side-by-side, a hint of pain in their eyes. But soon, their gazes gradually turned cold.

Jiuchen’s single blow had shattered Shi Zhanxin’s Profound Veins, broken his bones, and ruptured his internal organs. His face was covered in blood, making him look like a demon.

With a look of unwillingness, he began to laugh maniacally. "I was always a disciple of the Profound Mystery Sect," he snarled. "How can you call me a traitor? I’m just curious, Xuan Ye, how did you see through my identity?"

He didn’t understand. He had hidden himself so well in the inner court that not even Celestial Wheel and the others had seen through his identity as a Profound Mystery Sect disciple. Ye Xuan had barely interacted with him a few times, so how could he have known?

Ye Xuan sneered, "Did you think you were well-hidden? Just now, when I deployed the Heaven-Trapping Array to trap Duan Tianlang and his men, the grand array suddenly fluctuated, and a crack opened, almost giving them a chance to escape. I refined the Heaven-Trapping Array myself; I can easily sense any part of it. The reason a crack appeared was because the Array Disc you were holding emitted a trace of interference. That’s when I started to suspect you."

Shi Zhanxin gave a bitter smile. "So that’s how it was? Was that the flaw I exposed?"

Bitterness filled his heart. ’If I had known, I wouldn’t have tampered with the Array Disc.’ In the end, not only did Vice Sect Master Duan fail to escape, but he himself was exposed.

As if reading Shi Zhanxin’s mind, Ye Xuan sneered again. "In truth, even if you hadn’t exposed yourself with the Array Disc, you wouldn’t have been able to kill Jiuchen just now. After the incident with Lv Feng, I already suspected there might be other Profound Mystery Sect disciples among us. It would have been a joke if your sneak attack had actually succeeded."

"You suspected us from the beginning?" Shi Zhanxin was stunned and mumbled, "Then why did you still give us the Array Discs to control? Weren’t you afraid we’d let Vice Sect Master Duan and the others get away?"

Ye Xuan said mockingly, "I forgot to tell you. A normal Heaven-Trapping Array only needs six Array Discs to activate. The most crucial ones are those in the hands of Jiuchen, Elder Yao, and Elder Dong, because only their Tier Seven Profound energy can fully unleash the array’s power. As for the remaining discs, they were completely optional. Never mind just you trying to disrupt it; even if two more people tried, Duan Tianlang and his men still wouldn’t have escaped. The only reason I made ten Array Discs was to see if there were any traitors hiding among us. I didn’t expect you to actually take the bait."

Ye Xuan’s words struck Shi Zhanxin like a bolt from the blue.

His heart filled with immense bitterness. ’So the Array Disc I was controlling was completely irrelevant, utterly optional. And yet I was foolish enough to expose myself over it.’

Elder Yao and the others also stared at Ye Xuan, dumbfounded. ’Is this really a young man not yet twenty years old? He’s even more cunning and treacherous than us old dogs.’ At least, it had never even crossed their minds to suspect there might be a Profound Mystery Sect disciple among them.

"I’ve been thoroughly defeated."

Shi Zhanxin gave a bitter smile. As the life force drained from his body, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

Finally, his body fell limply, completely devoid of life.

Jiuchen said coldly, "Duan Tianlang, now it’s your turn."

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Streaks of light shot swiftly toward Duan Tianlang and his four companions.

Zhou Zhanlun asked anxiously, "Vice Sect Master Duan, what do we do now...?"

Duan Tianlang’s face was grim, his eyes savage. "What can we do? We can only leave it to fate! Run! Split up and run! It’s our only chance of survival."

SHHIIING!

Duan Tianlang’s blood qi ignited, and he transformed into a streak of bloody light, shooting toward the distant mountain range.

Shi Zhanxin had been his last trump card. Now that the sneak attack had failed, Duan Tianlang knew he had no way of turning the tables. Furthermore, his Blood Burst Demon Transformation Pill only had a few minutes of efficacy left. If he didn’t run now, was he supposed to stay here and wait for death?

When Duan Tianlang took off, Leng Wuji and the others were dumbfounded.

Then, they instantly came to their senses, each one transforming into a streak of light and shooting off in all directions.

"You want to escape? Do you think you can?"

"After them!"

Jiuchen took the lead, chasing after Duan Tianlang. At the same time, Elder Dong pursued Evil Kill, and Elder Yao went after Zhou Zhanlun.

Ye Xuan, naturally, set his sights on Crazy Battle.

The five members of Celestial Wheel’s group asked Ye Xuan, "Xuan Ye, do you need us to send someone to help you?"

Ye Xuan shook his head. "No need. I’m more than enough to deal with Crazy Battle. You guys go capture Leng Wuji."

"Alright, then."

Celestial Wheel and his group didn’t say any more. The five of them transformed into five streaks of light and instantly gave chase to Leng Wuji.

The skies above Santafe City, which had been roiling with Profound energy, instantly returned to tranquility.

Only then did the citizens of Santafe City come back to their senses. Many Martial Artists, who had been forced to their knees by the terrifying pressure from Jiuchen and the others, scrambled to their feet with pale faces.

At the same time, a series of pained wails echoed through the city. Many Martial Artists who had been too close were hit by the shockwaves, leaving them covered in wounds and in a sorry state.

The most miserable among them were the Martial Artists corroded by Duan Tianlang’s blood light. They had all been reduced to pools of foul-smelling pus. A few who hadn’t died were dragging their half-melted bodies, howling in agony. It was a gruesome sight.

Everyone felt as if they had just survived a catastrophe.

"Holy shit! So this is a battle between Martial Kings? Fucking awesome!"

"It was terrifying, indeed. To see such an earth-shattering battle in my lifetime is truly something."

A group of Martial Artists discussed excitedly amongst themselves, while others checked on each other comfortingly.

"Brother, you alright?" a Martial Artist asked his companion.

"’Course I’m alright! You didn’t see it, but it was a close call. A blast of blood light from Profound Mystery Sect’s Vice Sect Master Duan exploded right over my head! Luckily, my Vajra Body has reached the Second Layer, the Indestructible Vajra realm. The blood light was instantly repelled, and it even blew up a Martial Venerable. The only downside is it corroded a hole in my clothes. Damn it, this martial robe cost me fifty Profound Coins! It pains my heart!"

a dirt-covered Tier Two Martial Artist in a cheap martial robe said, wincing in distress.

"Hmph, that’s nothing. Just now, when that Jiuchen guy—the strongest one from Gale Light Academy—was fighting Duan Tianlang, one of his missed punches sent a wave of fist energy right at my face! As you know, my Tiger Subduing Fist has reached the pinnacle of mastery. I rooted myself in a horse stance, unleashed the ultimate mystery of the Tiger Subduing Fist, and dispersed that fist energy on the spot. Just scraped my hand a little. It’s a bit inflamed now."

another large man grumbled, putting on the airs of a master.

"You two are showing off about that? You got hit by the crossfire and didn’t even fight back. Jiuchen and Duan Tianlang were lucky they didn’t run into me. Otherwise, I would’ve used my Great Vajra Palm to slap them both to the ground. How dare they act so arrogantly in my Santafe City? They should’ve checked who they were messing with."

a scrawny man with sharp, monkey-like features sneered, his face full of disdain.

Just then, a squad of armored City Guards walked over. The burly leader shot them a disgusted look and said coldly, "Scram."

"Yes, yes!"

The few men who had been excitedly bragging immediately lowered their heads and scurried away, not daring to look back.

At this moment, a City Guard hurried over.

"Has the City Lord been found?"

"Reporting to the Commander, we haven’t found the City Lord. His whereabouts are unknown."

The burly man frowned and said coldly, "If you can’t find him, then forget it. Everyone, pull yourselves together and maintain order, you hear me?"

"Yes, sir."

WHOOSH, WHOOSH!

Above a mountain range outside Santafe City, Crazy Battle fled frantically. He was covered in blood, his face a mask of crazed ferocity.

Behind him, Ye Xuan, using the Wings of Void Walk, clung to him like a maggot on a rotting bone, refusing to let go.

"Damn it, damn it all! How is this brat so fast?! Even my Golden Light Escape can’t shake him! Dammit!"

Golden light flickered around Crazy Battle as he continuously burned his essence blood, yet he still couldn’t escape Ye Xuan’s pursuit.

WHOOSH!

Finally, he landed on a hill, glaring at Ye Xuan with venomous hatred. He knew that if the chase continued, his qi and blood would soon be exhausted, and he wouldn’t even have the strength to resist.

Ye Xuan landed in front of Crazy Battle and said coldly, "Done running?"

Crazy Battle’s gaze was vicious. "Let’s talk this out, Xuan Ye. I admit..."

BZZZT!

Before he could finish his sentence, two invisible beams of light shot from Ye Xuan’s pupils. The Eye of Illusory Restriction was silently activated, and Crazy Battle’s eyes went vacant for a moment.

Seizing that instant, the Dictator’s Sword in Ye Xuan’s hand flashed, hacking at Crazy Battle’s arms and legs, shattering his limbs. White bone fragments mixed with flesh and blood scattered across the ground.

"AGH! You..."

Crazy Battle snapped back to his senses, his expression twisting in agony from the intense pain.

He never would have imagined that Ye Xuan would strike without a word, with absolutely no warning.

Ye Xuan said coldly, "Now, I’m ready to hear what you have to say."